Fire Equipment

Fire Safety: In Case of Fire in the Workplace

Fires create confusion among workers and their families and destroy thousands of businesses each year. This crisis then leads to people losing work and their livelihood. That is why it is important to prevent this catastrophe. As an employee, it is your responsibility to be well informed on fire prevention and how to use fire equipment properly.

Unfortunately there are a lot of reasons how fire begins in the workplace. Some of these are chemicals, electricity, flammable materials and even poor housekeeping. You should be able to determine these potential hazards to make the workplace safer. After all prevention is your first defense in fighting a fire. Here is a short checklist to make sure your work environment is able to meet the basic safety conditions. This will help you be prepared in case of an emergency.

• Familiarize yourself with the nearest fire alarms and how to use them.
• As an employee, it is important you know the fire escape route at work. Each building must have at least two means of escape in the possibility of the other exit being blocked by the fire.
• Exit doors must be free from obstructions, and properly marked with signs leading to a way out of the building.
• Emergency action plans are required at the workplace. It should clearly explain and describe the routes to be used and procedures that the employees must follow.
• Only approved extinguishers are permitted for use. Every employee should read the instructions and be trained in the proper operation of this equipment.
• Automatic sprinkler systems throughout a building are a reliable means for early fire suppression. This system is able to detect fire, sound an alarm and put water out once heat is detected.
• To better prepare yourself, you should count the doors or desks between your work area and the nearest exit. This will facilitate you in to find your way out in case exit signs are not visible due to smoke or power failure during a fire.
• Call 9-1-1 and leave the area immediately. Do not attempt to put out a large fire all by yourself. It is much better to leave this responsibility to the professional firefighters with their firefighting equipment such as fire hose and fire extinguishers. You should never hesitate to call the fire department even if the fire seems minor. Remember that the sooner you ask for help, the more chance the fire will be controlled.

The best way to decrease the risk of dangerous fires at work is preparation and education. Fire safety training and installation of fire safety devices such as smoke detectors are essential in order to save lives in cases of blazing fires. Such trainings and fire prevention programs should be taken seriously by all employees to ensure safety in the possible occurrence of fires.